Excessive maternal gestational weight gain (GWG) contributes to generational obesity. Our aim was to explore efficacy and intervention characteristics (trimester, duration, frequency, intensity, and delivery method) of interventions to prevent excessive GWG. CINAHL, Cochrane, EMBASE, LILACS, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus were searched up to May 2018 (no date or language restrictions). Keywords and MeSH terms for diet, GWG, intervention, lifestyle, maternal, physical activity, and pregnancy were used to locate randomized-controlled trials (RCTs). The Cochrane Collaboration tool for assessing risk of bias was applied. Eighty-nine RCTs were included. Meta-analysis (60 trials) estimated that women in diet only (WMD: −3.27; 95% CI: −4.96, −1.58, p < 0.01), physical activity (PA) (WMD: −1.02; 95% CI: −1.56, −0.49, p < 0.01), and lifestyle interventions (combining diet and PA) (WMD: −0.84; 95% CI: −1.29, −0.39, p < 0.01) gained significantly less weight than controls. The three eHealth interventions favored neither intervention nor control (WMD: −1.06; 95% CI: −4.13, 2.00, p = 0.50). Meta-regression demonstrated no optimal duration, frequency, intensity, setting, or diet type. Traditional face to face delivery of weight management interventions during pregnancy can be successful. Delivery via eHealth has potential to extend its reach to younger women but needs further evaluation of its success.

Poor sleep, including symptoms of insomnia are common during pregnancy and postpartum periods. Poor sleep during the perinatal period is linked to impaired daytime functioning, mood disturbance, and risk for chronic insomnia. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is consistently shown to be efficacious in treating insomnia, but it is largely inaccessible to new mothers, and surprisingly, not part of current perinatal care. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a scalable CBT-based intervention for better sleep quality. In this single-blind randomised controlled trial, eligible nulliparous women are randomised in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention (CBT) or active control (healthy diet) condition. The interventions are provided from the third trimester till 6 months postpartum. The primary outcome is maternal sleep quality and secondary outcomes are maternal sleep-related impairment, mood, health-related quality of life, relationship satisfaction, and mother-infant-relationship, all assessed using validated instruments at 30- (baseline) and 35 weeks gestation (pregnancy endpoint), and 1.5, 3, and 6 months (postpartum endpoint) after childbirth, with follow-up assessments conducted at 1-year and 2-year postpartum. This study has the potential to address the need for an evidence-based, non-pharmacological sleep intervention tailored for the pregnancy and postpartum periods. The intervention is designed to maximise reach and minimise cost, with the potential to scale up and incorporate in routine perinatal care. With outcomes measured at 8 time points, from the third trimester of pregnancy to 2-year postpartum, this study has the potential to examine both short- and long-term impact on maternal sleep and wellbeing. ACTRN12616001462471 ; retrospectively registered on 19/10/2016.

The internet is the fastest growing source of nutrition information for consumers. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) provide and avenue for nutrition professionals’ urgent need to respond to consumer demand for low-cost, accessible and engaging information. This research aimed to evaluate learner participation and perceptions in an evidence-based nutrition MOOC and provide recommendations for engaging international online lay audiences. Learners completed pre and post course surveys including quantitative and open-ended questions. Pre-course surveys collected demographic data, prior nutrition knowledge and motivations for doing the course. Post-course surveys evaluated their preferred learning modes and learners’ opinions of the course. Quantitative were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Conventional content analysis was conducted on learners’ responses to open-ended survey questions using an inductive approach. Learners represented 158 countries from a range of educational backgrounds. There were 3799 qualitative comments related to learners’ learning and course content preferences. Qualitative analysis identified key themes related to (1) online interaction, the (2) value of the evidence presented by nutrition experts and (3) the course structure and practical aspects. Divergent opinions were expressed within these themes. Satisfying the needs of large international audiences with diverse backgrounds is challenging in promoting sound evidence-based nutrition messages. MOOCs provide a means for delivering evidence based global nutrition education in the online space crowded with food advertising and nutrition conjecture. Recommendations are made as to how to construct and engage diverse on-line audiences.